TV-Series
Description
Charles de D'Artagnan, often called by the nickname Nia, is a character who stands out for her striking appearance and considerable combat ability as a Master Samurai. She is a tall young woman from France with long blonde hair, red eyes, and a figure noted to be particularly prominent even among the cast. Her attire is a distinctive blend of western and Japanese influences, typically featuring a black western-style hat with striped fur, steel gauntlets, a purple and gold open shirt over a yellow striped cloth, and a frilled teal skirt with decorative metal bands on her legs.
Nia’s background is rooted in her time as an exchange student in Japan, having first attended the middle school division of Buou Academy as the daughter of a diplomat. Her life changed dramatically when she encountered Tokugawa Yoshihiko, who used his influence and schemes to forge a pact, binding her to him as a Master Samurai and placing her in a state of servitude as his "general". This relationship is a product of the Izanami Plan, a project aimed at artificially creating Master Samurai, making her a test subject who was tricked and forcibly turned into a powerful warrior. Despite this betrayal, she returned to Japan alone after a brief period back in France, choosing to remain at Yoshihiko's side.
Her personality is defined by a deep, often conflicted sense of loyalty. Nia is generally presented as a kind and serious individual, but her primary motivation is her unwavering, complicated devotion to Yoshihiko. Even when he treated her as expendable and ordered her to commit ruthless acts, she struggled with her duties, once refusing a direct command to kill when it violated her personal beliefs. This internal conflict highlights her true nature as someone who is not simply a tool but a person capable of compassion. She holds dear a simple paper samurai helmet that Yoshihiko made for her in the past, a symbol of the genuine affection she once felt for him that persists beneath the surface of their twisted contract.
In the story, Nia serves as a formidable antagonist for much of the narrative before her role evolves. She is initially a loyal enforcer for Yoshihiko, using her incredible strength to carry out his will. A crucial turning point occurs when her master fully succumbs to his darker ambitions, leading her to defy him to protect others. This act of defiance leads to a moment of sacrifice where she is mortally wounded while saving him from collapsing debris. Her death, while holding the origami helmet he gave her, triggers a realization of true feelings in Yoshihiko, leading him to revive her with a kiss. This event awakens her as a true Master Samurai, marked by a new pact seal on the back of her left hand, and she assumes her rightful place as his lieutenant.
Her key relationships are central to her development. Her bond with Yoshihiko is the most significant, defined by manipulation, loyalty, betrayal, and ultimately, a form of redemption. Her interactions with other characters, including Muneakira Yagyu and his companions, are also notable; while her loyalty is to Yoshihiko, she is not without sympathy for them and is sometimes compelled to offer aid.
As a Master Samurai, Nia possesses several notable abilities. Her primary weapon of choice is a pair of enormous, double-sided claymore swords, each weighing approximately 30 kilograms. Despite this immense weight, she wields them with blinding speed and agility, performing a variety of slashing, thrusting, and sweeping attacks. Furthermore, her distinctive outfit, including her hat and clothing, is reinforced with hidden steel plates, adding over 30 kilograms of additional weight. Her ability to move freely while carrying this total burden of around 100 kilograms is a testament to her superhuman physical strength. She can also augment her powers by invoking a "Mode Change," allowing her to utilize different elemental attacks such as Mode Flame for fire-based abilities and Mode Glass for ice-based attacks, among others.
Nia’s background is rooted in her time as an exchange student in Japan, having first attended the middle school division of Buou Academy as the daughter of a diplomat. Her life changed dramatically when she encountered Tokugawa Yoshihiko, who used his influence and schemes to forge a pact, binding her to him as a Master Samurai and placing her in a state of servitude as his "general". This relationship is a product of the Izanami Plan, a project aimed at artificially creating Master Samurai, making her a test subject who was tricked and forcibly turned into a powerful warrior. Despite this betrayal, she returned to Japan alone after a brief period back in France, choosing to remain at Yoshihiko's side.
Her personality is defined by a deep, often conflicted sense of loyalty. Nia is generally presented as a kind and serious individual, but her primary motivation is her unwavering, complicated devotion to Yoshihiko. Even when he treated her as expendable and ordered her to commit ruthless acts, she struggled with her duties, once refusing a direct command to kill when it violated her personal beliefs. This internal conflict highlights her true nature as someone who is not simply a tool but a person capable of compassion. She holds dear a simple paper samurai helmet that Yoshihiko made for her in the past, a symbol of the genuine affection she once felt for him that persists beneath the surface of their twisted contract.
In the story, Nia serves as a formidable antagonist for much of the narrative before her role evolves. She is initially a loyal enforcer for Yoshihiko, using her incredible strength to carry out his will. A crucial turning point occurs when her master fully succumbs to his darker ambitions, leading her to defy him to protect others. This act of defiance leads to a moment of sacrifice where she is mortally wounded while saving him from collapsing debris. Her death, while holding the origami helmet he gave her, triggers a realization of true feelings in Yoshihiko, leading him to revive her with a kiss. This event awakens her as a true Master Samurai, marked by a new pact seal on the back of her left hand, and she assumes her rightful place as his lieutenant.
Her key relationships are central to her development. Her bond with Yoshihiko is the most significant, defined by manipulation, loyalty, betrayal, and ultimately, a form of redemption. Her interactions with other characters, including Muneakira Yagyu and his companions, are also notable; while her loyalty is to Yoshihiko, she is not without sympathy for them and is sometimes compelled to offer aid.
As a Master Samurai, Nia possesses several notable abilities. Her primary weapon of choice is a pair of enormous, double-sided claymore swords, each weighing approximately 30 kilograms. Despite this immense weight, she wields them with blinding speed and agility, performing a variety of slashing, thrusting, and sweeping attacks. Furthermore, her distinctive outfit, including her hat and clothing, is reinforced with hidden steel plates, adding over 30 kilograms of additional weight. Her ability to move freely while carrying this total burden of around 100 kilograms is a testament to her superhuman physical strength. She can also augment her powers by invoking a "Mode Change," allowing her to utilize different elemental attacks such as Mode Flame for fire-based abilities and Mode Glass for ice-based attacks, among others.